Chapter 16: Life in Harrenhal 3

The princess along with her two kingsguard were headed to break their fast so that they may join the House Sieghart for their day. Even in her hands, Princess Rhaenys looks around trying to find her friend which makes her mother truly happy about bringing her here.

After breaking their fast they made their way to the training yard. On the way she saw several knights also going in the same direction. Noticing the gathering crowed had them wondering what was happening until they arrived at the yard. They saw a stand filled with lords and ladies of various houses and decided to join them. They stood and bowed deeply to her and then returned their attention to the commotion. She soon found herself sitting next to Elesis and Ronan. They are donning quality clothes. Foreign for sure, and much to her surprise even Elesis was wearing breches like her husband.

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This training yard was refurbished to be the arena for the melee part of the tourney. It was just an open field, encircled with a wooden fence and elevated seats for the audiences.

Right now it is being occupied by several knights and the most eye catching is a group made up of ten men in blue tunic and ten women in red tunic. The women were wearing black breches, shin high boots and leather gloves. They are each holding a training sword and dagger. The men aren't that different, only with blue tunics and shields in place of daggers.

She was surprised at that. It just wasn't done for women of the seven kingdoms to wield any form of weaponry. As far as she knew only Dorne and the North don't limit themselves with such trivial matters. Still she was very curious and happy at the display.

Their training blades is a long thin blade, one handed sword with a hand guard covering the grip like a shell. Their daggers though have hook like guard, Making their daggers look more like two bladed daggers with a shorter one to the side of the edge. They use it to grab on to their enemies blades, shields or anything really.

The women are skilled. Using their nimble physique to their advantage, out maneuvering their opponents. They use their daggers to catch and deflect strikes, pry or make their own openings or take advantage of any openings shown by the enemy. The main quality they displayed is great speed, but even greater flexibility. Making their dodges and parries more apparrent with barely any blocking done.

The men aren't slouches either. They put their robust physiques and advantages to use. Even powering through against their female counter parts if needed. They are also using shoulders, knees and kicks. But they have something about them that seemed... off... for some reason.

As if hearing her thoughts her uncle spoke. "They are disciplined." Elia looked to him questioningly, noticing aswell the attention of the nearby Lords. "Men are commonly swayed by their emotions in the heat of battle. It is not uncommon for a levy or sometimes even a knight to actually strike their own allies in a blood crazed mayhem. The exceptions are those who has gone through the experience of a great battle once before. They seemed off to you my dear because they don't fight like men simply smashing against one another in attempt to win. No, you are currently seeing a higher level of swordsmanship. This, princess are Fights rather than Duels."

"What is the difference uncle?"

Elesis smiled and said. "There are rules in the latter."

Elia's eyes widen at that and her attention snapped back to the arena. After even more observation he was indeed correct. This men and women are fighting more mercilessly than the others. There were even times when a woman would kick dirt into their opponents eyes, or even that time a man tackled a woman with his shoulder. As the more the princess watched, the 'Off' feeling she had made more sense. Despite the underhanded attacks, they were performed in a tactical manner than one done in desperation. The woman who kicked the sand, moved as if she expected the man to know about the dirt. And he did, which she took advantage off by whittling at his defense rather than jumping for a kill like most people would have done. A man kicked a woman to make some distance and he did so in a controlled manner, not sacrificing his defense nor his footing despite the action.

She looked to Ronan for confirmation but noticed his gazes at the Lord and ladies. She looked around trying to catch what he was looking for. After a couple of minutes it hit her. This was an obvious display, but less of an exercise for his guards but more for him to filter the Lords.

She saw and heard the jeering of several men at those that would either in their eyes 'cheat' alongside the mocking giggles of the ladies regarding the Warrior Women. There are several displays going on in the crowed. One of them is the young Lord Brandon Stark, jeering mockingly at a knight that elbowed his oppnent after his shield bash missed the woman. Another is the opposite reactions of Lord Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark.

The Baratheon Lord would cheer at either man or woman so long as they showed great skill. Which for some reason made Lyanna Stark beside him give off a small smile. But the young Stark frowns at the men and women as if disapproving of their very existance in the opposite end of the battle field. 'Less of a wolf and more of a falcon it would seem. How unfortunate.'

This was what he was looking at. The lord's reaction, he is using this to determine which of this people are smart enough to see beyond their genders. Which ones have a more level head on their shoulders. Which are swayed by their beliefs than those swayed by the truth. The reasonable ones. That was he was filtering amongs them. 'If this has been going on for a while, he most likely would have had a good grasp of some of their personalities as well!' she screamed in her mind. She blushed looking at the direction Ronan once more. Not noticing the frown on Elesis' face as she took note of her action with dull eyes.

Ronan felt Elesis' discomfort and small amount of anger, he held her hand to comfort and appease her. The life in her eyes returned as he did so. And she then tugged him up. Elesis urged him to the field with her.

Ronan turned to the princess before leaving. "Apologies princess but we had best get to our own training." He said with a bow.

She nodded at that. "Please leave your wet nurse next to me, as you can see my Rhaenys is eager to keep her friend." Indeed the two kids are babbling at one another as if having. conversation.

"Ah, of course princess but she is a nursemaid, rather than a wet nurse. But yes, we would be happy to leave her with you." replied Elesis as she gave a lingering kiss to her daughter making the baby babble.

Soon the two entered the field as well. The attention of the crowed turned to them immediately.

The two were holding identical training swords. Holding her Sword in both hands Elesis charged first. The crowed was surprised by her movements they released a collective *whoah!* as she suddenly reached Ronan. Ronan deflected her attack to the right but Elesis moved with the flow and spun to the right and finding her sword once again swinging to Ronan's torso. Ronan guarded with his sword pointing down and dragged it agains her sword towards Elesis. After closing the distance, he swung his sword harshly against the cross guard of her sword but Elesis smoothly stepped back. Ronan's strong strike overswung through the air missing his mark by a good half step. Elesis immediately went for a stab towards his chest. But Ronan guarded by pulling his sword arm back and bringing the flat of his sword as guard against the stab, knowing his awkward angle he stepped back as the stab landed. Lining the flat of his sword with her own, Ronan then stabed forward. Elesis twisted her hold on her sword lining her cross guard against the tip of the blade. Again she went with the impact of the sword and did a full spin backward, her blade finding it towards Ronan's neck but he expected it. Ronan already having pulled back his sword as he ducked and stepped forward. He was too close for a swing so he looked as if sheathing his sword with his other hand and then bashed the hilt of his sword against Elesis torso. He landed a hit but she didn't relent and countered with a kick to his chest. Expecting her move he guarded with the elbow of his extended arm. But stepped back not wanting to strain the elbow to being damaged.

The crowed was silent as the exchange barely lasted a mere handful of seconds. Again the fight resumed as the two clashed once more. For the next ten minutes the two clashed as the audience was mesmerized by the incredible display of skill they possessed. After ten minutes, they stood apart. Elesis breathing heavily but Ronan seemed more controlled but he is obviously strained as well.

All in the audience actually expected Ronan to win as evident by their breathing. Which was proven wrong after Elesis spoke. "Okay... I have an offer." Ronan raised his brow at that, and Elesis continued "If you let me win, I will wear that dress you 'reeaalllyy' liked tonight." Ronan suddenly lunge at Elesis which she parried lightly, but then Ronan sword flew to the side leaving him unarmed.

"Okay you win." was all he said before he walked out of the arena.

Someone snickered amongs the crowed as Robert Baratheon's boisterous laughter echoed in the arena. His laughter triggering the people's laughter aswell. As Elesis did an over the top curtsy to the crowed which made them laugh and cheered all the more.

Elesis soon found herself leaning on Ronan's shoulder as the man himself squeezed her thigh. Princess Elia just sat beside them blushing and smiling at the two, but her eyes couldn't hide the sadness and envy growing within her.

A Lord and his family soon came forward.

"Greetings, your highness." bowed deeply the man.

"To you aswell, Lord Stark." she replied curtly.

"Greetings to you aswell Lord and Lady Sieghart. I am Rickard Stark. Lord Paramount of the North and Lord of Winterfell.

Ronan replied with a bow. "Well met Lord Stark. It is good to finally put a face in the name of the man I have been doing business with."

"To you as well. Allow me to introduce my children. My eldest son and heir, Brandon." bowed a young man to his right. The youth didn't bother to hide his lust towards Elesis. An act which earned him a flood of killing intent. But as quick as it came it vanished, only because Elesis looked to Ronan as she slapped his arm playfully. Still it didn't escape the eyes of those around, specially his family as evident by the tight and painful grip his father had on Brandon's shoulder.

"My second, Eddard" the you man bowed respectfully which earned him a bow from both Sieghart. "And my third, Lyanna."

Instead of bowing the girl did what none expected her to do. She kneeled and looked to Elesis pleadingly and asked. "Please teach me!"

"... huh... "